NIGHT OF THE MEEK
Originally
Broadcast December 23, 1960
ACT ONE
FADE ON:
- 1. Standard road opening
- With vehicle smashing into letters, propulsion into starry night then PAN
DOWN TO OPENING SHOT OF PLAY.
- 2. Int. Department store [Day] Full shot of a roped-off area
- Attended by a line of restless kids and haggard, harried mothers. A large
sign on a poster nearby proclaims that there is, "One Shopping
Day Till Christmas."
- 3. Pan down the line of mothers and kids
- Until we reach another sign hung on a velvet tassled rope that surrounds
a large platform. This will tell us that "Santa Claus will return
at 6 o'clock." Another PAN UP the wall to a clock which reads,
"6:30." Another PAN DOWN for shot of Mr. Dundee, floor manager
and potentate of all things Yule-like. He studies his wristwatch
with an upraised eyebrow and ill-concealed impatience. He checks
this with the clock on the wall. Then his eyes travel over to the
empty Santa Claus chair.
- 4. Med. close shot empty Santa Claus chair
DISSOLVE TO:
- 5. Int. Bar med. close shot clock on wall
- Which reads "6:30." PAN DOWN to a large mirror behind the bar and the reflection
of Henry Corwin sitting alone in a booth. CAMERA PANS OVER FOR
A MED. CLOSE SHOT of Corwin, who sits there embarking on what is
obviously a fifth or sixth drink. He's dressed in an ill-fitting,
moth-eaten Santa Claus outfit, the false whiskers hanging several
inches from his chin; the Santa Claus hat is a few degrees awry
on his head, but with it all the face could very well be that of
Santa Claus. There's something gentle, kind, and infinitely patient
and warm that is a part of the features. The bartender comes into
the frame alongside the table.
- Bartender
(points to clock)
- You told me to tell yuh when it was six-thirty. It's six-thirty.
- Corwin
(nods)
- That's exactly what it is. Six-thirty. So?
- Bartender
(very bored)
- So what happens now? You turn into a reindeer?
- Corwin
(with a slight smile)
- Would that that were so!
- (he holds up his empty glass)
- One more, huh?
- Bartender
(pouring from bottle he's holding)
- That's six drinks and a sandwich. You owe me four-eighty, Santa.
Corwin takes out a single bill from his pocket, hands it to the bartender.
- 6. A different angle Corwin
- As seen from the other side of the table. He lifts the glass to his lips
and then is suddenly conscious of someone staring at him. He turns
and looks across the bar.
- 7. Long shot across the bar Corwin's p.o.v.
- The front window. Two little urchins, a boy and a girl under ten, are staring
at him through the glass, their noses pressed against it.
- 8. Different angle Corwin
- As he swallows, looks discomfited, then turns so that his back is partially
to them. Then he downs the drink in a hurry, puts it down. He rises
to his feet, looks across at the two little kids who, seeing that
he's noticing them, take off into the night and disappear. He turns
to the bartender.
- Corwin
(thoughtfully)
- Why do you suppose there isn't really a Santa Claus?
- 9. Close shot Bartender
- Who's returned to the bar, looks up surprised from drying glasses.
- Bartender
- How's that?
- 10. Two shot Corwin and bartender
- Corwin
- Why isn't there a real Santa Claus?
- (he nods toward the window.)
- For kids like that?
- Bartender
(with a shrug)
- What am I - a philosopher? You know what your trouble is, Corwin?
- (he reaches over and touches Corwin's red suit)
- You let that stupid red suit go to your head! Here's your change.
He puts down two dimes on the counter. Corwin looks down at them, cocks his
head, looks up with a sad attempt at roguishness.
- Corwin
- I'll flip you double or nothing.
- Bartender
- What do you think this is - Las Vegas? Come on, eat your sandwich and get out of here.
- Corwin
- I've had enough - to eat.
- 11. Track shot Corwin
- As he rises and walks slowly toward the door, reaches it, opens it up,
stares out through the half-open door to the snow that falls outside.
Then he turns, is about to say something to the bartender.
- 12. Long shot Bartender
- He's busy drying glasses. His back is to Corwin.
- 13. Close shot Corwin
- As his eyes move over to the cash register.
- 14. Close shot his five-dollar bill
- Sitting on top of the keys.
- 15. Different angle Corwin
- As we walks stealthily back to the cash register, reaches with his hand
over the counter toward it.
- 16. Extremely tight close shot his fingers
- About to grab the bill when suddenly into the frame comes the bartender's
hand, smacking Corwin's hand with a resounding slap.
- 17. Two shot the two of them
- As Corwin retrieves his injured fingers and puts them in his mouth.
- Bartender
- Santa Claus, I catch you doing that one more time - I'm gonna break both your arms up to the shoulder blades. Now go on, get out of here.
- (in phone)
- Naw, just Santa Claus trying to hoise the joint.
- 18. Different angle Corwin
- Picks up two dimes, throws one at bartender.
- Corwin
- Thanks, Bruce.
As he slowly walks toward the door and then outside.
- 19. Ext. Street
- As Henry Corwin pulls the top buttons of his thin jacket together, shivers
with the cold night winter wind and the wet, freezing snowflakes
that drive at him. He walks over to the curb, leans briefly against
the lamp post, looks up, and blinks his eyes as the snow falls
in his face, then very slowly and half-stumbling, he starts to
walk away and is suddenly gripped by the after-effects of the liquor.
He reaches out to steady himself and winds up dropping to a sitting
position on the curb where he sits there, bent over, his head down.
- 20. Med. close shot Corwin at the curb
- He is suddenly conscious of other presence. He looks up very slowly, PAN
SHOT UP THE STREET and legs of the two little urchins who stand
there, hand in hand.
- Little Girl
- Santa Claus... I want a carriage... I want a dolly... and a playhouse...
and a job for my daddy.
- Little Boy
- And, Santa Claus, I want a gun... and a set of soldiers... and
a fort... and a big turkey for our Christmas dinner.
- 21. Reverse angle looking toward Corwin the children's p.o.v.
- Tears course down his face. He stumbles to land on his knees, then flings
his arms around both of them, burying his face against their coats
and crying, dry, harsh sobs.
- 22. Reverse angle looking toward children
- His face is buried against the children. We now hear Serling's voice in
narration.
- Serling's voice
- This is Mr. Henry Corwin, normally unemployed, who once a year takes the lead role in the uniquely American institution - that of the department store Santa Claus in a road-company version of "The Night Before Christmas."
- (now the CAMERA PANS OVER to where Serling stands in front of the bar)
- But in just a moment, Mr. Henry Corwin, ersatz Santa Claus, will enter a strange kind of North Pole which is one part the wondrous spirit of Christmas...and one part the magic that can only be found...in The Twilight Zone.
FADE TO BLACK:
OPENING BILLBOARD
FIRST COMMERCIAL
FADE ON:
- 23. Int. Department store [Night] Med. long shot
- Down an aisle leading to the empty Santa Claus chair. Corwin comes into
the frame and hurriedly, though unsteadily, walks toward the chair.
- 24. Med. close shot Dundee
- Who steps out into the aisle, deftly, and somewhat nonchalantly grabs Corwin's
arm as he passes, stopping him dead and whirling him about.
- Dundee
(through clenched teeth)
- Corwin, you're an hour late!
- Corwin
- I am?
- Dundee
- Now get up on your throne and see if you can keep from disillusioning a lot of kids that not only isn't there a Santa Claus - but the one in this store happens to be a wino who'd be more at home playing Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer! Now get with it...
- (and then he spits this out like an epithet)
- Santa Claus!
- Woman
(in a screechy voice)
- You go ahead. Climb up on his lap. He won't hurt you, will you, Santa Claus? You won't hurt my little boy. You go ahead, you tell him-
She gives the kid a massive boot and he winds up at the foot of Corwin, who rises, weaves unsteadily, extends a wavering hand, hiccoughs.
- Corwin
- What's your name, little boy?
- Boy
- Percival Smithers.
- Corwin
- Oh. What would you like for Christmas, Percival?
- Boy
- A new front name.
- 25. Med. close shot Corwin
- As he tilts sideways, grabs the chair for support, and then winds up sitting
on the floor where he smiles up apologetically at the little boy.
- 26. Close shot little boy
- As he turns to his mother, jerking his thumb in Corwin's direction.
- Percival
- Hey, Ma! Santa Claus is loaded!
- 27. Med. close shot woman
- As she rips the rope aside, barges into the area, grabs her kid by the hand, and looks down, infuriated, at Corwin.
- Woman
- You've got some nerve! You ought to be ashamed!
- 28. Close shot Corwin
- As he rises unsteadily to his feet and with a thin, sad smile—
- Corwin
- Madam, I am ashamed.
- 29. Two shot
- Woman
(yanking her son)
- Come along, Percival. I hope this isn't going to be a traumatic experience for you!
- (then over her shoulder toward Corwin, she spits this out)
- Sot!
At this moment, people overhearing the loud tone have stopped and are staring
at the woman and then at Corwin. Dundee, the manager, comes into the
frame, obviously desperately frightened by what's going on, and his voice
takes on the unctuous placating quality of every hard-pressed store manager
in the world.
- Dundee
- Is there some trouble here, madam?
- Woman
- Trouble? No, there's no trouble - except this is the last time I trade in this store! It seems you hire your Santa Clauses out of a gutter!
- 30. Close shot Corwin
- He takes a step over toward her.
- 31. Close shot woman
- Her face twisted with anger.
- Woman
- Come on, Percival.
She barges into two people, pushes them bodily out of the way, and drags the
child down the aisle.
- 32. Close shot Dundee
- As he whirls around, icy-faced, toward Corwin, looks briefly at the salespeople
who have congregated around.
- Dundee
(tersely)
- All right, back to work. Back to your positions!
- 33. Track shot with him
- As he walks toward Corwin, stopping by the velvet rope that encloses the
area, and then, with fierce expression, waggles a finger toward
Corwin, who unsteadily walks over to him.
- Dundee
- And now, Mr. Kris Kringle of the lower depths...since we are only a few hours from closing, it is my distinct pleasure to inform you that there is no more need for your services. You've had it! Now get out of here!
- 34. Med. close shot Corwin
- As with sagging shoulders and looking less and less like even
a caricature of Santa Claus, he starts to walk slowly down the
steps. Over his shoulder we see Dundee staring at him coldly. As
he passes the manager—
- Corwin
- It'll be my pleasure.
- Dundee
(on platform)
- And get that moth-eaten red suit back to where you rented it from before you really tie one on and destroy it for good and all, you drunk.
- 35. Close shot Corwin
- As he stops, looks at the manager, smiles gently.
- Corwin
(comes back up platform)
- Thank you ever so much, Mr. Dundee! As to my drinking - this is indefensible and you have my abject apologies. I find of late that I have very little choice in the matter of expressing emotions. I can either drink or I can...weep. And drinking is so much more subtle.
- Dundee
- Will you please leave.
- Corwin
- But as for my insubordination-
- (he shakes his head)
- I was not rude to that woman! Someone should remind her that Christmas isn't just barging up and down department store aisles and pushing people out of the way!
- Dundee
- Corwin!
- Corwin
- Someone should tell her that Christmas is something quite different than that. It's richer and finer and truer and...and it should come with patience and love and charity and compassion-
- (he looks away, his voice very soft)
- That's what I would have told her...had she given me the chance!
- 36. Close shot Dundee
- Dundee
(icily)
- How philosophical, Mr. Corwin! Perhaps as your parting words you can tell us how we go about living up to these wondrous Yule standards which you so graciously laid down for us?
- 37. Close shot Corwin
- He looks up and there's no smile now.
- Corwin
(softly, shaking his head)
- I don't know how to tell you.
- (turns)
- I don't know how to tell at all. All I know is that I'm an aging, purposeless relic of another time and I live in a dirty rooming house on a street that's filled with hungry kids and shabby people, where the only thing to come down the chimney on Christmas Eve is more poverty.
- Dundee
- Keep your voice down.
- Corwin
- As you know, another reason I drink - so that when I walk down the tenements, I can really think that they're the North Pole and the children are elves and that I'm really Santa Claus bringing a bag of wondrous things for all of them.
- (he looks down to the floor)
- I wish, Mr. Dundee...on just one Christmas...only one...that I could see some of...the hopeless ones and the dreamless ones...
- (he looks up)
- Just on one Christmas...I'd like to see the meek inherit the earth!
- (he nods slowly)
- That's why I drink, Mr. Dundee, and that's why I weep.
He takes a deep breath, smiles, turns, and shuffles away down the aisle, watched
by fascinated salespeople and customers, who whisper among themselves
about the strange little man with the odd way of speaking and the extremely
odd things that he says.
DISSOLVE TO:
- 38. Ext. Street [Night]
- Snow cascades down in driving sheets of wet white.
- 39. Track shot Corwin
- As he walks toward the camera and then suddenly stops. The sound of the
wind has also stopped, and there's a sudden and utter silence.
Over this, we hear the sound of sleigh bells. Corwin tilts his
head, looking up toward the sky and then around. The sound of the
sleigh bells persists. Corwin looks off, puzzled, then starts to
walk again. When he does so, the wind comes up and it's almost
as if he were satisfied that, for a moment, he was suffering either
an illusion or had not yet completely sobered up.
- 40. Close shot Corwin
- As once again he stops and again the wind has stopped and this time the
sleigh bells are persistent and much louder.
- 41. Long shot Corwin
- As he starts to step in front of the entrance to an alley. At this moment,
there's the sound of a shrieking, caterwauling cat.
- 42. Close shot Corwin
- As he turns to stare toward the alley.
- 43. Close shot a row of garbage cans
- And a cat that suddenly leaps off of them and disappears into the darkness.
In the process, it tips over a big burlap bag.
- 44. Close shot the bag
- As it lands on the ground. The top seam splits, and a couple of old empty
cans roll out.
- 45. Different angle Corwin
- As he walks over, retrieves a few with his hands, shoves them back inside the bag, then starts to hoist the bag on top of the garbage cans again. It tips, starts to fall again, and Corwin starts to carry it over toward the end of the cans, lugging it over his shoulder much as the real Kris Kringle might do in his nocturnal deliveries.
- 46. Angle shot looking down at Corwin
- As he carries the burlap bag.
- 47. Top hat shot waist-high looking toward Corwin
- As he approaches the camera from the other end of the garbage cans. He
suddenly stops in his tracks as once again all sounds stop and
he looks up, wide-eyed, as again he hears the sound of sleigh bells
and this time, tiny hoof beats as if from a group of animals. He
very slowly lets the burlap bag drop from his shoulder, where it
tips again and falls forward.
- 48. Extremely tight close shot Corwin
- As his eyes slowly look toward the ground. He reacts.
- 49. Close shot the ground
- Where the burlap bag lies on its side, its top open. But protruding out
of its open end is a toy truck, a doll, and evidence of many other
brand-new, shiny toys. Corwin makes an exclamation of amazement
that is mixed with a cry of joy.
- 50. Top hat close shot of Corwin
- Down on his knees, as he starts to thrust the toys back into the bag, then
lifts the bag to his shoulder.
- 51. Camera follows him shooting a long angle shot down on him
- As he races down the alley toward the street, occasionally stopping to
pick up toys that have fallen, and shouting at the top of his lungs.
- Corwin
- Hey...hey, everybody...Hey, kids...Merry Christmas, kids...Hey kids...Merry Christmas...
FADE TO BLACK
ACT TWO
FADE ON:
- 52. Int. Mission house [Night]
- This is a big, square, bench-laden room with posters on the wall with little
homilies like, "Love thy Neighbor," "Do Unto Others As You Would
Have Them Do Unto You," "Faith, Hope, and Charity," etc., etc.
And then a large sign at the far end of the room which reads, "The
Delancey Street Mission House." PAN DOWN from this sign for a shot
of an angular, spinsterish-looking woman who pounds on an organ
an obscure Christmas carol which is more spirited than melodic.
- 53. Different angle the room
- PAN SHOT up and down the row of benches for shots of shabby old men, perhaps
twelve of them, who sit there listening to the music, a couple
of them drinking coffee out of cheap china mugs, holding their
cups more to warm their hands than their insides. Each of them
wears the face of despair that can only come with poverty and age
going hand in hand.
- 54. Long shot the room
- Down the center aisle as the door at the far end opens, and an old man
hurriedly comes in. We see him whisper something to another old
man on a bench, who in turn leans over to his partner on the other
side and also whispers something.
- 55. Close shot the woman playing the organ
- Who continues to pound, and then, as the voices start to intrude on the
"music," she plays louder to drown the voices out.
- 56. Different angle the room
- As by this time all the old menhave heard something and are reacting, some
standing on their feet, others talking loudly.
- 57. Close shot Sister Florence
- Who suddenly pounds on the organ and rises.
- Sister Florence
- What is this all about? What's all this noise? What's this commotion? What's the idea of comming in and disrupting the Christmas Eve music service?
- 58. Close shot old man
- Who had originally brought in the message.
- Old man
- Sister Florence, I ain't touched a drop since last Thursday and that's the gospel truth! But I swear to you right now - on account of I seen him with my own eyes - Santa Claus is comin' up the street headin' this way and he's giving everybody his heart's desire!
- 59. Tilt close shot the old men
- As each reacts in turn.
- Ad libs from old men
- "Santa Claus!" "Who's kidding who?" "I don't believe it."
- 60. Flash shot close the door
- As it bursts open and in walks Henry Corwin in his bedraggled Santa Claus
suit. Hung over his shoulder is the same full bag. At his feet
are a pack of kids, housewives, and various other denizens of the
area. The voices are loud, piercing, excited as we
CUT TO:
- 61. Long angle shot Corwin
- As he puts the bag down on the floor then looks up, twinkling, making a
Santa Claus gesture of finger to nosetip.
- Corwin
- Merry Christmas, gentlemen!
- (puts bag down)
- Now what'll be your pleasure for Christmas, gentlemen? How about you?
He points to the first old man.
- 62. Close shot the old man
- Whose eyes go wide.
- Old Man
(breathlessly)
- I fancy a new pipe!
- 63. Full shot the area
- As Corwin reaches into the bag.
- 64. Close shot the bag
- As Corwin extracts a beautiful Meerschaum.
- 65. Med. group shot
- As the old man takes the pipe, shaking his head in wonderment and an almost
numb delight.
- 66. Close shot Corwin
- As he looks around, his eyes twinkling, and he points to another old man.
- Corwin
- How about you?
- 67. Two shot
- Old man two
- A woolen sweater?
- Corwin
(making a triumphant gesture with his hand)
- A woolen sweater you'll have.
- (he starts to reach into the bag then looks up again)
- Size?
- Old man two
- Who cares?
Corwin reaches back into the bag and pulls out a beautiful sweater which the
old man takes with absolute glee.
- 68. Various angles the old men
- As they call out their heart's desire.
- Voices
- "Another sweater, maybe?" "How about some pipe tobacco?" "A carton of cigarettes?" "Brand new shoes?" "Smoking jacket?" "Slippers?"
- 69. Intersperse these shots with Corwin
- Dipping into the bag and extracting each item in turn that is called out.
- 70. Close shot spinsterish-looking woman, Sister Florence
- Who pushes her way through the men and stops.
- Sister Florence
- Where'd you get all those gifts?
- 71. Med. group shot
- As Corwin turns toward her.
- Corwin
- Sister Florence...don't ask me to explain. I can't explain. I'm as much in the dark as anybody else. All I know is that I've got a Santa Claus bag here that gives everybody just what they want for Christmas. And as long as it's puttin' out...I'm puttin' in.
- (he reaches into the bag again, then looks up, smiling at her almost breathlessly)
- How about a new dress, Sister Florence?
Sister Florence whirls around on her heel, pushes her way through the other
men and out the door.
- 72. Whip pan back to Corwin
- Who has just extracted a huge, beautifully wrapped package which a couple
of the old men start to unwrap and reveal gorgeous evening dress.
Once again the voices start with requests for gifts and the old
men crowd around Corwin as we can see his arms digging in and pulling
out. Smoking jackets, pipes, cigarettes, everything asked for is
thrown out into the air to be grabbed by eager hands. Then suddenly
there's the sound of a door slamming and all voices stop.
- 73. Pan over to door
- Where Sister Florence stands behind a tall, ruddy-faced young policeman
whose eyes dart around the room.
- 74. Track shot the policeman as he walks toward Corwin
- The old men hurriedly move to either side in a spasm of fear. The policeman
taps his billy club on his other palm as he approaches Corwin.
- 75. Angle shot looking up toward policeman Corwin's p.o.v.
- The policeman hovers over him like a symbol of all the law and order in
the world, imposing, and at this moment menacing.
- Policeman
(points toward bag)
- What's your name?
Corwin rises, straightening out his moth-eaten beard.
- Corwin
- Henry Corwin, officer. At least it was Henry Corwin. Maybe now it's Santa
Claus or Kris Kringle. I don't know.
- 76. Close shot the policeman
- As he sniffs at the air.
- Policeman
- You drunk, Corwin, is that it?
- 77. Close shot Corwin
- Who laughs again, and his laugh is so infectious and so marvelously rich
and winning that the other old men have to join.
CUT TO:
- 78. Different angles the old men
- Who share the laughter.
- 79. Close shot Corwin
- Who laughs again.
- Corwin
(passing out toys)
- Naturally I'm drunk. I'm drunk with the spirit of the Yule! I'm intoxicated with the wonder that is Christmas Eve! I'm inebriated with joy and with delight. Yes, officer, I am drunk!
- 80. Close shot a toothless old man
- Who looks around bewilderedly.
- 81. Med. close shot policeman
- Policeman
- We can settle this one in a hurry, Corwin.
- (then very meaningfully and with vast suspicion)
- I'd like to see the receipt for all this stuff.
- 82. Different angle the area
- Corwin
- The receipt?
- Policeman
- Of course you've got a receipt.
- 83. Close shot the old men and Corwin
- All of them nod hopefully, except Corwin, who shakes his head. The old
men look at one another and their eyes go down.
- 84. Different angle policeman
- Who looks over toward Sister Florence.
- Policeman
- Sister Florence, collect all the stolen goods and put them in a pile over there. I'll see that they get claimed after I find out where he took the stuff from! Come along, Santa.
With this he turns and propels Corwin out the door.
DISSOLVE TO:
- 85. Int. Police station [Night]
- A small, bare waiting room flanked by empty benches. The bag sits on the
floor in the center of the room presided over by the policeman,
Officer Flaherty, who nods toward another policeman at the door.
The camera PULLS BACK for a shot of Mr. Dundee, standing across
the room, who wears a look of contented ferocity. He rubs his hands
together briskly, like an executioner, when Corwin enters the room.
- Dundee
- Aaah...here he is! And here we are!
- (pointing to bag)
- And there that is!
- Corwin
- And there you are. How nice to see you again, Mr. Dundee.
- Dundee
- And how nice it will be to see you, my wistful St. Nicholas - going up the river!
- (then turning to Flaherty, his voice hopeful)
- Do you suppose he could get as much as ten years?
- Corwin
- Ten years?
- Flaherty
- It don't look good, Corwin! Of course, they might lop off a few months if you was to tell us where the rest of the loot was.
- (then turning back to Dundee)
- He's been givin' away stuff for two and a half hours. He must have a warehouse full of it.
Corwin scratches his head, looks from one to the other, then to the bag.
- Corwin
- I'm glad you brought that up, Officer.
- (he points to the bag)
- There's a little discrepancy here.
- Dundee
- Listen, you moth-eaten Robin Hood - the wholesale theft of thousand of dollars worth of goods is not a simple discrepancy-
- (he moves over to the bag and starts to open it)
- Though I can tell you right now, Corwin, that this whole affair has come as no surprise to me.
- (as he talks he removes things from the bag - garbage, broken bottles, etc.)
- I perceived that criminal glint in your eyes the very moment I saw you! I'm not a student of human nature for nothing. I...
Suddenly the cat leaps out squalling, runs across the room and out the door.
It is at this moment that Dunde realizes the nature of the things he's
removed from the bag. He stares down at the bag then up Corwin as does
Flaherty, both men wide-eyed and incredulous.
- Corwin
(he waggles a finger at the bag)
- Mr. Dundee...aah...you have...aah...kind of put your finger on the problem! That bag can't seem to make up its mind whether to give out garbage or gifts.
- Flaherty
(his mouth working before anything comes out)
- Well it was givin' out gifts when I seen it.
- (to Dundee)
- Whatever they wanted - Corwin was supplyin'. And it wasn't tin cans neither! It was gifts. Toys. All kinds of things. Expensive stuff. You might as well admit it, Corwin!
- Corwin
(very happily)
- Oh, I admit it!
- (then shaking his head)
- But I believe the essence of our problem here is that we're dealing with a most unusual bag.
- Flaherty
(waving him aside)
- My advice to you, Corwin, is to clean up this mess and get out of here.
Corwin shrugs, moves across the room and starts to put the stuff back into
the bag. Dundee turns to Flaherty with devastating sarcasm.
- Dundee
- And you, Officer Flaherty, call yourself a policeman! Well, I suppose it's a demanding task to distinguish between a bag full of garbage and an inventory of expensive stolen gifts.
- Flaherty
(still incredulous)
- You can believe me, Mr. Dundee...it's just like Corwin says. We're dealing with something supernatural here.
- Dundee
(his voice still dripping with sarcasm)
- In other words, all we need do is ask Mr. Corwin to make a little abracadabra
for us, and no sooner said — done. Well, go ahead, Corwin.
I fancy a bottle of cherry brandy, vintage 1903.
Then he throws up his hands in disgust and moves away.
- Corwin
(smiles thoughtfully, as he pauses by the door, the bag over his shoulder)
- Oh that's a good year! That's a good year.
He reaches into the bag and pulls out a gift-wrapped box, lays it on the bench,
looks at it for a moment, shrugs, smiles, and then exits.
- Dundee
(turning very slowly)
- And now as to you, Officer Fla—
He stops abruptly. His eyes go wide.
- Corwin
- Merry Christmas, gentlemen.
He exits.
- 86. Whip pan over to Flaherty
- Who has opened the package and holds out a bottle with a gift tag hanging
from it. Dundee reads from the card.
- Dundee
- "To Mr. Dundee, from Santa."
- 87. Close shot the bottle
- As the cork suddenly pops right out from it. Flaherty just sinks back on
the bench, unable to stand any longer. Dundee, trancelike, walks
over to him, looks at the bottle and the card, and sinks to the
seat alongside. The two men stare at the bottle. Flaherty holds
up the bottle.
- Flaherty
- I think you need this.
Dundee takes the bottle and takes a swig from it.
DISSOLVE TO:
- 88. Ext. Street [Night] Full shot the area surrounding the lamp post near the bar
- Filtered through the light are falling snowflakes. PAN DOWN with the snowflakes
until we reach Henry Corwin surrounded again by people as he passes
out toys and gifts from the bag to the laughing, excited people
who surround him.
- Corwin
(as he hands the stuff out)
- Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas...here's a sweater for you. What's that? A toy?
- Pat
- I want an electric train engine.
- Corwin
- Diesel or steam?
- Pat
- I don't care.
- Andrea
- I'd like a dolly.
- Corwin
- Dollies? What color hair would you like, darlin'? Blonde, brunette, red, or what have you?
He continues this running chatter as the voices throw out the requests at him and he answers each in turn. Gradually, the crowd starts to thin out.
- 89. Close shot steeple clock
- As it rings twelve and then the echo of the last chime starts to fade away.
PAN BACK to group shot of Corwin and a few people who remain, each
carrying a gift.
- 90. Close shot Corwin
- Who looks up and blinks back happy tears.
- Corwin
- And a Merry Christmas to all!
He looks down at the bag again, and for the first time it's empty, just a cloth
sack that lies crumpled up on the pavement. He reaches down, picks it
up, stares at it at an arm's length, then tosses it back on the sidewalk.
- 91. Different close shot Corwin
- As he smiles down at it, then once again in a familiar gesture, tries to
straighten his beard.
- 92. Close shot old man
- Who touches his arm as Corwin moves off by him.
- Old man
- Hey, Santa! Nothin' for yourself this Christmas?
- 93. Close shot Corwin
- Who touches the old man's arm in turn, pats it.
- Corwin
- Why, I've had the nicest Christmas since the beginning of time!
- 94. Two shot
- Old man
- But with nothin' for yourself.
- (he points to the bag)
- Not a thing.
- Corwin
(scratches his head)
- Well now do you know something-
- (he shakes his head)
- I can't think of anything I want.
- (he looks down)
- I think the only thing I've ever wanted was to be the biggest gift-giver of all times, and in a way I've had that tonight.
- (then he looks away very thoughtfully, scratches his jaw)
- Though if I did have a choice...and choice at all...of a gift...
- (he looks toward the old man, smiling)
- I guess I'd wish I could do this every year.
- (he winks and grins)
- Now that would be a gift, wouldn't it!
- (a pause, he turns to go, then stops, turns back to the old man)
- God bless you and a Merry Christmas.
- Old man
- Merry Christmas to you, Santa!
- (gets in car)
- Thanks for the car, Santa.
- Corwin
- Don't mention it.
- 95. Track shot Corwin
- As he walks down the snow-covered street.
CUT TO:
- 96. Different angle as he approaches camera
- He pauses for a moment. His face has a strange expression, then he looks
around, realizing the familiarity of the place. It's the opening
to the alley. He turns very slowly to stare in and his eyes bug.
- 97. Slow pan toward and then into the alley
- There is the back end of a sleigh and a reindeer. A small elf stands close
by holding the team of reindeer. He looks with happy expectancy
at Corwin. Corwin looks down at the tiny thing, closes his eyes,
and shakes his head, absolutely discounting it. He makes a gesture
as if waving the elf back into oblivion and starts to move away.
- Elf
(a little persistently)
- Hello. We've been waiting quite a while, Santa Claus.
- 98. Close shot Corwin
- He turns, a little wild-eyed, to stare behind him and then back toward
the elf. He blinks, gulps, pointing to the pipe in the elf's mouth.
- Corwin
- Oh no.
- Elf
- Did you hear me? I said we've been waiting quite a while, Santa Claus.
Corwin, again wide-eyed, points to himself questioningly.
- 99. Close shot Elf
- Who nods.
- Elf
- We're got a year of hard work ahead of us to get ready for next Christmas!
Come on — are you ready?
Corwin gulps again and then starts to walk toward the reindeer. The elf goes
over to the sleigh and beckons Corwin in.
DISSOLVE TO:
- 100. Ext. The stret in front of the police station
- As Flaherty comes out arm in arm with Mr. Dundee. They obviously feel no
pain.
- Dundee
- Going home now, Officer Flaherty?
- Flaherty
(smiles happily through glazed eyes)
- Going home, Mr. Dundee. And you?
- Dundee
(with a happy smile of his own, beams beneficently)
- Going home, Officer Flaherty. This is the most remarkable Christmas Eve I've ever had.
- 101. Close shot
- As he stops, looks off, then stares at Flaherty, who in turn looks up toward
the sky. There's the unmistakable sound of reindeer bells.
- 102. Two shot Flaherty and Dundee
- As they gape up at the sky.
- Dundee
- Fla-Fla-Flaherty! I could have sworn that-
- (he looks at the policeman, who is blinking and rubbing his eyes)
- Did you see it?
- Flaherty
- I thought I did.
- Dundee
- What did you see?
- Flaherty
- Mr. Dundee — I don't think I'd better tell you. You'd report
me for drinking on duty—
- Dundee
- Go ahead! What did you see?
- Flaherty
(gulps)
- Mr. Dundee - it was Corwin! Big as life...in a sleigh with reindeer, sitting alongside an elf and riding up toward the sky.
- (he closes his eyes and gulps again)
- That's about the size of it, ain't it, Mr. Dundee?
- 103. Close shot Dundee
- Who nods and in a very small, strained voice.
- Dundee
- Flaherty...you better come home with me. We'll open up some hot coffee...and we'll pour some whiskey in it...and we'll...
- (he looks up toward the sky once again and then down at Flaherty and his smile has a sudden rich compassion)
- And we'll thank God for miracles, Flaherty!
- 104. Different angle the two men
- As they start to walk away from the station house down the snow-covered
sidewalk.
- 105. Track shot with them
- As over them we hear Serling's voice.
- Serling's voice
- A word to the wise... to all the children of the twentieth century...
whether their concern be pediatrics or geriatrics; whether they
crawl on hands and knees and wear diapers... or walk with cane
and comb their beards. There is a wondroud magic to Christmas...
and there is a special power reserved for little people. In short...
there is nothing mightier... than the meek! And a Merry Christmas
to each and all!
As the camera pulls away on the disappearing figures of the two men who walk
through the snowy night, we
Fade to black. |
